British director Tristram Shapeero has revealed it was his voice that could be heard in the viral video posted by Lukas Gage last week.
On Friday, the Euphoria video shared a video of himself preparing for a Zoom audition, in which a director can be heard insulting the young star’s home, without realising he isn’t on mute.
“These poor people live in these tiny apartments,” the voice is heard saying. “Like I’m looking at his background, and he’s got his TV and you know...”
At this point, Lukas interrupts, stating: “I know, it’s a shitty apartment. That’s why give me this job, so I can get a better one!”
Posting the video on social media, Lukas joked: “PSA: If you’re a shit talking director make sure to mute ur shit on zoom meetings.”
Tristram Shapeero – whose directing credits include episodes of Absolutely Fabulous, Peep Show, The Good Place and Parks And Recreation – has now outed himself as the voice in the clip, issuing a public apology to the actor.
Writing for Deadline, he said: “This Zoom audition took place in August, after four months of lockdown. A number of my co-workers were also on the auditions which happened over several days.
“It was emotional to see actors work so hard to win the few parts available and we were deeply moved by the passion of these young people under the extraordinary circumstances.”
He continued: “I was using the word ‘poor’ in the sense of deserving sympathy, as opposed to any economic judgment.
“My words were being spoken from a genuine place of appreciation for what the actors were having to endure, stuck in confined spaces, finding it within themselves to give a role-winning performance under these conditions.
“As I say on the video, I’m mortified about what happened. While I can’t put the proverbial toothpaste back in the tube, I move forward from this incident a more empathetic man; a more focused director and I promise, an even better partner to actors from the audition process to the final cut.”
After the clip went viral, Lukas received support from a number of fellow actors, including January Jones and Downton Abbey’s Hugh Bonneville.
Filmmaker Judd Apatow also said: “As a young man I would have dreamed of an apartment like this one. Look at that sweet flat screen! The guitar! The moldings!”
Lukas Gage has previously appeared in Assassination Nation and the Love, Simon spin-off Love, Victor, but is best known for playing Tyler in the teen drama Euphoria.